Middle English Dictionary Entry
folk n. (collective or plural)
Entry Info
| Forms | folk n. (collective or plural) Also volk, foolk, fok. Pl. folk or folkes. |
| Etymology | folk is usu. construed with a pl. verb. OE folc. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1a.
(a) People, persons; (b) lewed ~, the common people, laymen, non-clerics; poure ~, poor people; yong ~, young people; (c) people in general, human race, manking; folken frover, comforter of mankind; mortel folk, mortal men; on folk, among mankind, in the world; on folken wis, according to the human manner.
Associated quotations
a
- 1123 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1123 : Micel ungerime folces, wæpmen & wimmen, forburnen.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)28/29 : Þenne wule al folc us oftorfiæn mid stanum.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)ded.35 : Mann birrþ spellenn to þe follc Off þeȝȝre sawle nede.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)117/9 : Besiech at me swo muchel folc swo ðu wilt after ȝiernen.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)46a : He hereð ant ȝetteð hire alle hire benen & sayueð þurh ham muche folc [Nero: uolc].
- c1300 SLeg.Cross (LdMisc 108)494 : Þat folk him siwede with gret pres.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)43 : Oþer þet uolk þet ne byeþ naȝt ine spoushod, louieþ ham togidere folliche.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2433 : Ferrest fro alle weies þer any folk walkes.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)2.143 : Feire-speche fauel..moche folke desceyueth.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.502 : Fyue thousand folk it was as greet meruaille With loues fyue and fisshes two to fede.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)100 : What-kyn folk so þer fare, fechez hem hider.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.6935 : Sathan..folkes to illude, Ful sotilly kan hym silfe include In ymagis.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1429 : As folk in bokes rede.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)204 : To gripen other folkis god.
- c1435 Lydg.St.George (Bod 686)1 : O, ye folkes, þat here present be!
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)2190 : Þe fader and þe moder..Weron foulke of ryȝt gret astate.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)45 : Goddes foght in the filde, folke as þai were.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)1.200 : Of tho folkes wiche lustys had lorn, Shulde this mayde sprynge.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)350/35 : All folkys sawe hym well and playnly.
- a1500(?a1400) Torrent (Chet 8009)958 : Leve folkes, what Eyllythe yow?
b
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)ded.55 : To læwedd follc Larspell off Goddspell tellenn.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1510 : Brutus nom al his ȝunge folc.
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.174 : To the poure folkes that ther dwelle, Sey hem right thus.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.508 : Lewed folk yeuen it swich a name.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.467 : How meritoire..to clothe and fede The povere folk.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.185 : This yonge folk no peril sihe.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.956 : At daunces Ther yong folk kepen hir obseruaunces.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2535 : Ȝonge folkis þat ben amerous.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3879 : Wikkid-Tunge hath custome ay Yonge folkis to bewreye.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5778 : They seen pore folk forfare.
- (1430) Doc.Merchant York in Sur.Soc.12932 : What bed of the poure foulk that voides next..wythin the hospitall of the Trinite.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)278 : Cypride, To whom on knees two yonge folk ther cryde.
- c1450(c1386) Chaucer LGW Prol.(1) (Benson-Robinson)415 : Yet hath he maked lewed folk delyte.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)81/274 : Pore ffolk ffaryn, god knowyth how.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)13786 : I am she..That lye abedde with ffolkys yonge.
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2218 : Astrild..þa alre feireste wifmon þe þa wunede on folke.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)23058 : Þenne ure drihte demeð alle uolke.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)81 : Þe hali gast, folkene froure.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)46/20 : Þu, folkes feader of frumscheft, schuptest a[l] þet ischepen is.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)1900 : Þe offrede to his feder, for me ant for al folc, him seolf on þe rode.
- a1300 Hit bilimpeð (Corp-O 59)5 : Vroure & hele, folkes fader, heouenliche drichte!
- a1300 I-hereþ nv one (Jes-O 29)5 : Al volk wes to-dreued, so schep beoþ in þe wolde.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)9.33 : Riht þus hit fareþ..bi folk her on eorþe.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1201 : He þat suld sauue al folk of sin.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)271 : Þe fende loked How þe deȝter of þe douþe wern derelych fayre, And fallen in felaȝschyp wyth hem on folken wyse, And engendered on hem jeauntez.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1665 : He hatz formed þe folde and folk þerupone.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.2.114 : Al the entencioun of mortel folk travaylen for to geten it.
1b.
Used loosely: (a) angels, devils; fenden ~, the devils; (b) creatures; also, things [in Palladius].
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)122 : Heuene heþ þri stages of uolke.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)224 : Fy[lt]er fenden folk forty dayez lencþe.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)2.156 : Forþy is loue ledere of oure lordes folke in heuene.
- c1440 Treat.PN(2) (Thrn)262 : Þan praye we god þat he destruye þe deuelles kyngdome and his folke.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Prov.30.26 : Foure thingus ther ben the leste of erthe..amptis..a litil hare, a folc [L plebs; WB(2): puple] vnmyȝti..the locuste..a lisard.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)63 : He [the greihounde] shuld be..goodly to all maner folkes, saue to wilde beestis.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)6.119 : Castracioun..Haue a thing therfore Maad like a swerd, this folk [the testicles] away to score.
2.
(a) Nation, race, tribe; also, the people of a city, province, or region; burh ~, townsmen, men of a city; (b) kindred, family, clan; (c) offspring, descendants; (d) countre ~, ileden ~, land ~, leodlich ~, the people of a nation or race; (e) ~ fest, public festival; ~ king [OE folc-cyning], king of a people; ~ mele [OE folc-mǣlum], by crowds, in a wholesale manner; ~ nede, people's need; ~ place, ?a public place; ~ rede [OE folc-rǣden], the people; folkes mot [OE folces-gemōt, folc-mōt], assembly of the people.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1150 Chron.Tbr.B.1 (Tbr B.1)an.1066 : Ða wes þer an of Norwegan þe wiðstod þet Englisce folc.
- ?a1160 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1135 : Stephne de Blais..com to Lundene & te Lundenisce folc him underfeng.
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)2/5 : He ferde of egyptum ofer þam ræde sæ mid þam israelitiscan folce.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)ded.19 : Ȝiff Ennglissh follc, forr lufe off Crist, Itt wollde ȝerne lernenn.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)3070 : Þe Judewisshe follkess boc.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)51 : Wordes þe weren speken bitwine two folkes..of ierusalem and..of babilonie.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)89 : Þat burh folc hihten þe hege strete and bihengen it mid palmes.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)329 : He his cun funde of þan folck of Troye.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)9758 : Þet burh-folc wes war & wel hine wusten.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)10068 : Þat folc gan to spelien Irlondes speche.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)30935 : He biwuste a þan daȝen þat folc of Merchene laȝen.
- a1300 Þo ihu crist (Jes-O 29)40 : Bitwene þis twam volke, me þuncheþ a wundernesse.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)785 : To wune Egipte folc among.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)57 : Brutons was þe verste folc þat to engelonde com.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ecclus.50.27 : Two folkis hateth my soule..That sitten in the hil of Seir, and Filisteym.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1161 : Hou þe gentryse of Juise..Watz disstryed..For þat folke in her fayth watz founden untrwe.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.138 : The Grekes founden nothing softe The folk of Troie.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.602 : The folk of Thebes caughte hire bane.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)14/13 : Alexander tuke trybute of þe Romaynes and of alle the folkes þat duelt bitwixe that & þe weste Occeane.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)introd.38 : To the Latyn folk in Latyn.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)73 : Besyde a folk men clepeth Cymerie.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5311 : Þou þat has brettend on þe bent þe barbrins fokke.
- a1525 Conq.Irel.(Dub 592)52/12 : The folke [Rwl: pepil] of Weysford.
b
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)2/13 : Forȝet ti folc & tines feader hus.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)1479 : Þat folk of seint thomas kunne wel þicke abouten him drouȝ.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1286 : Assemblen alle the folk of oure kynrede.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.301 : To my fadres folk and his allyes.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)48/18 : I haue mech folk of my kynrod.
c
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)697 : Of sem and of ðe folc ðe of him cam.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)685 : He is chosen to be chef chyldryn fader, Þat so folk schal falle fro to flete alle þe worlde.
d
- a1131 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1127 : Þet land folc him wið toc.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)51 : Þat lond folc hem ouersette mid felefelde pine.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)19120 : Al þat leodliche folc bilufde þesne ilke ræd.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)13857 : Þat folc hi isomned, al ure iledene folc.
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)5/43 : Þi lond folk we schulle slon.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)5425 : In eche contreye prest hii were mid þe lond folc anon.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2161 : And of his contre folk a ful gret won.
- a1525 Conq.Irel.(Dub 592)50/16 : Haue we any hope that our lond-folk [Rwl: londpepil] vs come to helpe?
e
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)12149 : To beon all follke king in all Þiss middellærdess riche.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)9107 : Heo hine broðten sone biforen þen folke-kinge.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)25687 : Ȝet þe cniht seide to þan uolc-kinge.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)196 : We maki oure guode dedes to-uore þe uolkerede.
- 1419 Liber Albus Lond.in RS 12.136 : Qua vero nos Wardemota vocamus..apud Saxones folkesmot antiquibus dicebantur.
- (1437) Visit.Alnwick in Lin-C.Statutes 2388 : Item dicit quod subtrahuntur ab ipso expense per eum facte pascendo ly ffolcfeste in vltimo Natali, quod non erat in propria, nec in cursu.
- a1525 Conq.Irel.(Dub 592)36/3 : Þay egrely assaylleden..& folke-mele slowe the men.
- a1525 Conq.Irel.(Dub 592)50/15 : Robert steuenessone..ys beseged fer wyt hys fomen yn folk place.
3.
(a) Of a religious group or sect: Cristene folk, Godes ~, hethen ~; (b) of a social class or occupational group: ~ of armes, men-at-arms; ~ of shot, archers; going ~, foot-soldiers; ordred ~, religious ~, clergy; secular ~, laymen; (c) a type of people; persons with a certain quality or distinguishing trait.
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.675 : Þet hwa swa hit breket ealre biscope cursunge & eal Cristene foces [read: folces] he hafe.
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.963 : To þære mynstre..ðe hwilon wæs fordon fra heðene folce.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)32/18 : Al Godes folc, ðe rihtlice ilefæð on ðone lifiȝende God.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)ded.116 : All Crisstene follkess berrhless.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)1526 : Þatt teȝȝ..shædenn fra þatt hæþenn follc Þatt Godd iss all unncweme.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)18324 : Þat hæðene uolc þa ufere hond hafeden.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)14674 : Al þat cristine folc come to hirede.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)4/17 : Hire flesliche feder Theodosie hehte, of þet heþene folc patriarche & prince.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1004 : Fro godes folc sulde he be don.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.541 : Alle cristen folk been fled fro that contree.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.1293 : Swiche meschaunces As hethen folk vseden in thilke dayes.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)16579 : Þat ganninde [Otho: going] folc læiden heom to grunde.
- (1386) RParl.FM (C&D)34 : The folk of the Mercerye of London.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3150 : This maketh that oure wyues wole assaye Religious folk.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.894 : Thise ordred folk ben specially titled to god.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.897 : Thus this folk [alchemists] bitrayen innocence.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1322 : I speke of folk in seculer estat.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6149-50 : Religiouse folk ben full covert, Seculer folk ben more appert.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)15.360 : Now failleth þe folke of þe flode and of þe londe bothe, Sheperdes and shipmen.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)4317 : Folk off armes..Numbred þer were ffyfty þousend.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)633/25 : Amonge religious folke.
- c1475 Gregory's Chron.(Eg 1995)155 : To helpyn..with summys of v C men of armys or of folke of schotte.
c
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2390 : I haue shewed yow of which folk ye shul take youre conseil and of which folk ye shul folwe the conseil.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1339 : Þis townysche folk do so comownly.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1716 : Thre folkes were present: Some in soth that feithful were [etc.].
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.Diet.(Sln 3534)35 : With thre folke be neuer at debate:..thy better..thy felaw..thy sugget.
- a1475 Bk.Courtesy (Sln 1986)546 : Thes thre folke..euer sene Þat noþyng fayle.
4.
A body of retainers, followers, servants, or attendants; subjects (of a king); household;--also fig.
Associated quotations
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1104 : Se cyng his folc ofer sæ into Normandig sende.
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)1119 : Þa twegen cyngas..mid heoran folcan coman togædere.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)433 : Þa lette he riden vnirimed folc bi-ȝeoten wepnen & mete.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3850 : Gentil Alisandre..Empoysoned of thyn owene folk thow weere.
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.377 : Fro Maxime and fro his folk echone.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1537 : Right so kan gery Venus ouercaste The hertes of hir folk.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.255 : Bisshopes been shapen with hire for to wende, Lordes, ladies, knyghtes of renoun, And oother folk ynowe.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)816 : Þen ȝede þe wyȝe aȝayn swyþe, & folke frely hym wyth.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1025 : He gan disclose þe somme of his entent Vnto his foolke stondyng ronde aboute.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)897 : This kyng..Sat with the quene..whan his folk echon Out of [his] Chambre sodeynly wer gon.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.34 : Swich peyne and wo as Loves folk endure.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.357 : What to doon he nyste, But bad his folk to gon wher that hem liste.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.79 : 'Wher is my lady?' to hire folk quod he.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2428 : Unnethe is Demophon to londe ywonne, Wayk and ek wery, and his folk forpyned.
- c1432-a1500(c1390) Chaucer L.St.(Robinson)23 : O prince..Cherish thy folk and hate extorcioun!
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)636 : Ever mo of love enditest..And in his folkes furtherynges.
- a1475 Siege Troy(1) (Hrl 525)183/886 : He brought with him..fful nobill folkis.
5.
(a) A band of armed men, army, division of an army, garrison; (b) a council, assembly, governing or advisory body; (c) a crowd, multitude; troop of hunters; company of guests.
Associated quotations
a
- a1131 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1128 : He bebead folc vt to Ierusalem, & þa for mid him & æfter him swa micel folc swa næfre ær ne dide.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)642 : He..þreateð þene castel & þat folc þer inne.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)21852 : Scottes leie ȝeond clude..mid hungere for-uarene, folkene alre ærmest.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)10551 : Carrais com to sæ mid selcuðe uolke [Otho: folke].
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)89 : He was te beste knith at nede Þat heuere micthe riden on stede, Or wepne wagge, or folc vt lede.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)5455 : Þat folc of kent aȝen is wille bileuede bihinde þere.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)3847 : Þe þridde folc ladde Bretel.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1185 : Oure folk ginneþ to falle.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.988 : He faught..In pleyn bataille and putte the folk to flight.
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)464 : Ȝe may be scomfite in bataile þan And ȝour folk be slayn euerychoon.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)4035 : He fille to helle with all his folk.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)387 : Whan oȝt fauted in þe folke..Atte þe belfray to be.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4053 : Ser Dary..seȝis his foke faile.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)22755 : Þat folc wes of feole londe.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)30168 : To ane isette dæiȝe þat folc þær i-somnede.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)22934 : He lette in one daiȝe al þat folk [Clg: hired] gaderi.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.328 : She for hir conseil sente..And whan assembled was this folk in feere, She sette hir doun.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2198 : Whan this folk togydre assembled weren.
c
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)136/6 : He arerde æft ænne cniht..on þæs folces isihðe.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1870 : Þer wes muchel folc at þere wrastlinge.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)2010 : Þet ter weren isleine of þet awariede folc fowr þusent fulle.
- c1300 SLeg.Cross (LdMisc 108)601 : Þat folk made gret deol for hire.
- c1300 SLeg.Dunstan (LdMisc 108)8 : Þat folk stod al in gret wonder.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)76 : Þe ffolk byffore and byhynde bygonne to grede ffaste.
- c1330 Degare (Auch)56 : Tweie damaiseles and ssche..þer abiden Til al þe folk was forht iriden.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2449 : Þat ferli folk folwed him after..huntyng holliche þat day on hors & on fote.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.379 : The folk been alle on reste.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.894 : Biforn the folk hir seluen strepeth she.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)12838 : Ihon him sagh..And said þat all þaa fok [Göt, Frf: folk] moght here.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)8919 : An aungel clere..hir soule bere þere in alle þe folkes siȝt.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)54 : Al watz þis fayre folk in her first age.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.191 : This folk wol comen up anon, That han the lettre red.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)6.209 : For defaute of her fode, þis folke is at my wille.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1285 : Whan I had al this folk beholde.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1775 : Graunte us sone The same thing, the same bone, That [ye] this nexte folk han doon.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1475 Gregory's Chron.(Eg 1995)155 : And he that shalle be requyryd shalle be holdyn to sende at hys owne dysposyssyon hys men or forke [read: folk] for the fyrst monythe.
Note: New spelling